"I just don't like the band that much" Hannah said. She sounded apologetic, and Shelly was sure that if anybody other than Rona had been involved that wouldn't have been the case at all. "I mean," Hannah continued, "I can tell that they're good musicians. And the people who like them obviously really like them. But - all that gloomy instrumental stuff, I dunno. I just can't get into it."

"Well, that's okay" Shelly said. "Nobody says you have to like it. You've tried, no-one can ask more than that."

"Yeah but I think Rona thinks I like them" Hannah said. "What if she thinks I like them? I mean I've gone along to their gigs all these years mainly 'cause I liked hanging out with Rona, so what am I supposed to say?"

"Why say anything?" Shelly said. "She doesn't need an explanation. Find some other way to hang out with her. Eventually she'll figure it out and she'll stop asking you to these gigs. You don't have to go, it doesn't mean you don't like her any less." Shelly stepped forward and put her arms around Hannah's shoulders. "Honey, this is the way the world works. Through people not saying anything, and people figuring stuff out for themselves. Everyone saves face that way. It's how the world keeps turning."

"Are you sure?" Hannah asked, half-turning her head to see Shelly out of the corner of her eye.

"Yeah", Shelly said. "For sure. Trust me."

"That's good" Hannah said. "That's a relief. Because honey, I really don't want to go to that gig."